2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500: Reliability Data

95
Total Complaints
17,000mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES
Top Issue
5
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

9,659 25th Percentile
17,000 Median Mileage
21,450 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES
12
AIR BAGS
12
POWER TRAIN
12
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
9
WHEELS
7
ENGINE
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2

Severity Assessment

5
Crashes
4
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL FREE-PLAY TRAVEL BEFORE BRAKING OCCURS. ALTHOUGH THE MANUFACTURER'S OWNERS MANUAL WARNS AGAINST PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO DO SO ESPECIALLY IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. IF THE DRIVER HAS TO HESITATE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHET..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET SUPPLIED THE PARTS AND REMEDY FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V465000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 3500. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT NOTICED RUST ON THE REAR BUMPER AND CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WEATHER CAULKING WAS NOT SEALED AND LEAKED WATER ON THE BUMP-OUT LOCATED BETWEEN THE H..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

SERVICE BRAKES 12 complaints
25th: 8,369 mi Median: 14,250 mi 75th: 19,625 mi
POWER TRAIN 12 complaints
25th: 9,994 mi Median: 12,350 mi 75th: 16,475 mi
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 11 complaints
25th: 12,125 mi Median: 19,000 mi 75th: 24,645 mi
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 10 complaints
25th: 18,000 mi Median: 20,000 mi 75th: 25,000 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

FL: 20 CA: 13 NC: 12 GA: 4 TX: 4 MD: 4 TN: 3 AR: 3 CT: 3 OH: 3

Who Files Complaints?

5.3%
Original Owners
94.7%
Second+ Owners

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 — Other Years

See how this model compares across different model years.

YearComplaintsCrashes
2012312
2013360
2014834
2015370
2017380
2019435
2020223
2023240

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28